জাতীয় ক্যান্সার গবেষণা ইনস্টিটিউট ও হাসপাতাল

Title: Surgical Oncology at NICRH: Past, Present, and Future

The National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) offers specialized surgical oncology services that are combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hematology services. In addition to common cancer surgeries, we also provide surgical treatment for rare conditions such as sarcoma, peritoneal surface cancers, neuroendocrine cancers, melanoma, anal cancer, testicular cancer, and more. Furthermore, for advanced or recurrent cancers that are often considered inoperable elsewhere, such as advanced stomach, colorectal, cervical, or other pelvic cancers, we are the only specialized cancer surgery team in Bangladesh.

Within the Surgical Oncology department, there are four specialized units dedicated to organ-specific cancer care services, which are briefly described as follows:

1. Gastrointestinal Unit: This unit focuses on cancers in the alimentary tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colorectal cancer management. Specialized procedures performed here include gastrectomy, various laparoscopic procedures on the upper GI, Ivor-Lewis procedures, radical colectomy, and more. Palliative procedures are also performed regularly under the guidance of renowned GI surgeons.

2. Breast Unit: This unit excels in breast-conserving surgery and adopts innovative approaches, such as SLNB with dual tracers, wire-guided breast-conserving procedures, and oncoplastic techniques. Research on breast cancer surgery at NICRH has gained significant recognition not only in Bangladesh but also abroad.

3. Hepatobiliary and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Unit: This unit tackles challenging procedures, including Whipple's procedure, gallbladder cancer surgery, and pancreatic surgery using both open and laparoscopic approaches. Additionally, it specializes in the management of sarcoma, dealing with complex and recurrent cases referred from across the country.

4. Ortho-Oncology Unit: This unit addresses various bone tumors with a multidisciplinary approach, emphasizing limb-salvaging surgery to improve patients' quality of life. Both upper and lower limb prostheses are available here.

Furthermore, the department conducts various interventional procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic surgery, CT-guided core biopsy, impalpable breast tumor localization, and marker insertion.

Looking to the future, our plans include:

1. Expanding the use of laparoscopic techniques in the management of gastrointestinal cancer.

2. Introducing robotic surgery for cancer management, especially in esophagus and pelvic surgery.

3. Initiating stereotactic breast cancer biopsy to diagnose early-stage breast cancer using modern imaging techniques.

4. Establishing a dedicated facility for interventional procedures to diagnose and treat cancer patients effectively in the early stages.

5. Developing human resources through training, workshops, and extensive research efforts.

The Department of Surgical Oncology at NICRH has become a leading provider of surgical cancer management, both nationally and internationally. The high number of patients treated in the department is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our surgical oncologists in providing holistic care to their patients.